New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills preview and prediction

11 September, 2017

The first match-up of the season comes against the New York Jets, one of the few teams in worse shape than the Bills.

The Buffalo Bills are not listing LeSean McCoy on the final injury report. But Petty, who has been wearing a brace on the knee, participated fully in all the Jets' practices before the game and said he was feeling no pain. By the fourth quarter, fatigue was a big factor. Jermaine Kearse caught seven passes for 59 yards.

As expected, the Jets' offense was inept - gaining just over 200 total yards and rushing for just 2.5 yards per carry - but the defense wasn't much better, allowing 18 plays of 10-plus yards and nine plays of 20-plus yards, while allowing the Bills to rush for almost 200 yards. In 2016 McCoy rushed for 1,267 yards and 13 touchdowns, the fifth time in his career that McCoy has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark. A 22-yard reception by Nick O'Leary put the Bills in scoring range.

NY failed to turn the interception into points.

Hyde's interception with 1:35 remaining sealed the Bills win. If the optimal offensive philosophy - running backs Bilal Powell and Matt Forte methodically wearing down the defense and allowing quarterback Josh McCown to take shots downfield - is going to work, it will do so against the Bills, who allowed 4.5 yards per carry (tied for fifth-worst in the NFL) previous year and traded cornerback Ronald Darby to the Philadelphia Eagles in August.

But Ramon Humber at least intercepted McCown's two-point conversion pass, keeping the Bills ahead, 14-12. Bills lead series, 59-53. Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier will coach his first game as a member of the Bills' staff. The passing game won't necessarily be strong in this season opener, but the running game is still solid in the hands of Bilal Powell and Matt Forte.

After the Bills' Stephen Hauschka missed a 46-yard field goal attempt on the next possession, the Jets charged back, going 30 yards in eight plays and settling for Catanzaro's 52-yard field goal, enough to draw the Jets to within 7-6 at halftime.

NOTES: The Bills recognized the 25th anniversary of their National Football League record comeback victory over the Houston Oilers on January 3, 1993 in a halftime ceremony. Christian Hackenberg backed up McCown. Taylor suffered a concussion during the preseason and was in concussion protocol until midway through last week, so if he is rusty or struggles with any pressure, it could be the opportunity the Jets need to come off with a surprising season-opening win.